Four Portuguese towns and villages – Ericeira, Madalena, Manteigas and Sortelha – have been awarded the World Tourism Organization’s “Best Tourist Village 2023” award, the Ministry of Economy and the Sea announced today.
The announcement was made during the World Tourism Organization’s General Assembly and Executive Committee meeting, which is being held in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, until Friday, at which other venues were allocated.
The agency said in a statement that the mark, which will be in effect for three years, recognizes the best rural destinations around the world, promoting the transformative role of tourism in these areas through sustainable development strategies aligned with the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
“This award, awarded to one of the most important tourism organizations in the world, highlights the excellence of national tourism, the country’s hinterlands and differentiated tourism offers,” emphasized Nuno Fazenda, Secretary of State for Tourism, Trade and Services. Quoted in a statement sent to Lusa.
For the government official, the awards are “an international recognition of the sustainability and authenticity of Portuguese tourism, which it is important to continue to ensure and improve.”
Ericeira is in the municipality of Mafra, in the district of Lisbon, Madalena in the municipality of Madalena, the island of Pico, in the archipelago of the Azores, Manteigas in the district of Guarda and the historical village of Sortelha in the municipality of Sabugal, in the district. from Guarda.
According to Carlos Asensão, president of the Tourism Development Association Aldeias Históricas de Portugal, this recognition “once again demonstrates the merits of the work developed by Aldeias Históricas.”
“We are very pleased to receive this award, which recognizes our association’s strategy to make this area truly sustainable and innovative, based on the concept of green, inclusive and smart growth, capable of promoting integrated local development and differentiating itself. as a “leader of innovation” in areas with low population density,” added Carlos Ascensan, quoted in a note sent to Lusa.
The World Tourism Organization highlighted those designated as destinations “sincerely committed to promoting and preserving their cultural and historical heritage, and advocates of sustainable tourism,” called heritage villages.
Sortelha is the third historical village in Portugal to be awarded the title of “Best Tourist Village” after Castelo Rodrigo in the municipality of Figueira de Castelo Rodrigo, which won in 2021, and Castelo Novo in the municipality of Fundão, which won the award. the same award in 2022.
Cumeada, in the municipality of Reguengus de Monsaraz, Évora district, was also awarded in 2021.